“I was thinking how nice it would be to study the current culture of an alien species.”
He made a sound of agreement in his throat. “Maybe someday you will.”
Hopefully sooner rather than later.
Chapter 4
The next morning the captain made us stay inside the ship until it was fully light out, even though we were all up early and excited for the day to start.
“Is it just me, or do they seem jittery?” Tatiana asked as we ate our breakfast bars.
I glanced at the men wandering around the main deck. “They have no reason to be. Yesterday went smoothly. We’ve only been here one night. What could they possibly have to be worried about?”
“That’s what worries me.” She watched them warily as she nibbled on her food.
I didn’t trust them either, but we didn’t have any reason to think they were being anything other than cautious in this new environment.
“It could be that none of them have been on an alien planet like this. Even though they are the Consortium’s Triplanetary Military, they’re likely only used to the three human planets. That could be the cause of their discomfort.” I suggested.
“I hadn’t thought of that.”
I hoped that was it. I’d had an uncomfortable sensation in my stomach since seeing the decorative flowers yesterday. Was anyone else feeling a sense of unease about this place? My team didn’t seem to be anything but excited for the next several hours of work, but maybe the military officers were getting the same sense of foreboding that I was.
When the sleek metal doors opened and the ramp descended, I shook off my melancholy, grabbed my equipment, and headed out.
As I got closer to the worksite I took in the command tent. Or rather, what had been the command tent. It was destroyed. Nothing else in or near the shrines had been bothered, but pieces of the equipment the men had brought out in black cases along with the white tent were scattered everywhere.
I crouched next to the remains of the tent. Teeth marks marred the posts that had once propped the canvas up. Nearby, a metal case had scratch marks all over it. I was suddenly thankful that they’d insisted we go inside before darkness came.
Cursing and grumbling accompanied the captain and the men as they saw the work of whatever creature had been out here last night. I continued on. They would live without their command tent protecting them from the sun.
The rocks and shrines didn’t bear any signs of wild creatures. There were no claw marks and nothing was disturbed, almost as if this place was sacred and they knew to stay out of it. I shook off the thought. How silly.
The morning passed in a blur and by midday I felt like I’d drunk my weight in electrolyte infused water, thanks to theheat. I wiped sweat dripping into my eyes and glanced around, wishing for a breeze.
Movement at the corner of my eye had me turning. Several feet away a huge leaf with a scalloped edge was swaying, as if something had been there. Instinctively, I looked for the military officers. They were still giving us space after yesterday, but hadn’t abandoned us completely, for which I found myself suddenly very grateful.
I kept an eye on the spot as I nibbled on my meal replacement bar. Nothing moved, and I chalked it up to paranoia. There were also large flying insects here, which could have made it move.
An ear shattering cry of pain had me lunging to my feet. It took me a few seconds of wild scanning to find the cause of the noise. When I did, disbelief hit me like a wave. Multiple animals the size of a main coon cat, much larger than the peacock sugar glider that Jaron had taken a picture of, but still the same species, were pouring into the area. The wail had come from the co-pilot, and she batted wildly at them as they swarmed her, biting, their brightly colored feathers flaring around them as they snarled and bared pointy teeth. What they lacked in size, they made up for in number.
I started running toward the co-pilot.
“Oh my gosh!” A few feet away Dr. Rasmussen froze as one skittered toward him, teeth bared. I changed my trajectory and barreled into him, pushing him hard so we both tumbled behind a protruding stone. The angry animal missed us, barely. Its razor-sharp claws flashed scant inches from us.
Gun and laser fire rent the peaceful air, a booming staccato that echoed painfully against the cliff walls back to us as if in judgment.
I crawled so that I could put my back to the stone and have a better vantage point.
The military had recovered from whatever shock the horde of creatures had created and were shooting them. Several yards away one of my researchers was clutching her thigh, bright red blood staining her khaki hiking pants. I started to crawl toward her but a hand on my ankle kept me from going far.
“What are you doing?” Dr. Rasmussen hissed.
“Dr. Walker is injured.” I pointed. His eyes were dilated, but his gaze followed my pointing finger.
“Can’t you wait to go out there until they’re all dead?” He hadn’t let go of my ankle yet.
“I need to make sure she’s ok.” I turned in time to see Dr. Walker trying to kick at two of the creatures that were attempting to jump on her.
